'98 3.8 upper & lower intake manifold gasket & plenum replacement help (kinda windy)

[JStin]

I'm starting to get together what I need to replace the UIM, LIM gaskets & intake manifold. When I first bought this car from my mother in law a few years ago I came across this site as a matter of educating myself on the details of what I just bought. I knew the GM 3800 was solid & really liked the car.

At that time I bookmarked a few links on doing the titled work since I knew eventually I'd be doing it. The car had pretty low mileage when I got it & still only has 66,500 mi. When my kid goes back to college this fall I'll have an extra car so it's time to get prepared. Unfortunately those links are now dead. At the risk of being scolded what happened to Bonnevilleclub? I've searched "intake manifold" here & at the 3800 series II forum without the results I'm after.

My questions:

1) Is this the way to go with the intake manifold? http://www.automotivepartsnetwork.co...product=229679
I'll get the gaskets from GM, aluminum framed. Is there a way to know if I need pinned vs nonpinned before tearing it apart? The dials on the existing manifold from left to right are 7,4,98.

1a) Tools needed? I'm fairly well stocked but I think I see a large torx bit that I don't have. I do have the FSM which will probably answer this but nothing like info from prior experience. Any stubborn nuts/bolts that I should pre-treat with PB Blaster or something

2) What else should I do while I'm doing this? I'm thinking valve cover gaskets at least right? One thing my searches turned up was the elbow at the tensioner, should I go ahead & replace this? There was also a mention of a "lower" elbow that I don't see.

3) Any caveats? Be careful don't break X?


Few can believe that this thing is 10 years old. I got stopped for speeding recently & gave the cop my license & insurance card, he soon came back from his squad & says "this is a 2004 right?" (which is the newest vehicle on my insurance card) I said no it's a '98 & he goes "really!?" Makes ya wonder why they have those fancy computers in their cars eh?

Thanks for an help.

jstin

[LittleHoov]

Im pulling from pretty old memories here, but I do recall that we broke the MAP sensor, its on the left hand side of your UIM, the PCV valve is actually located underneath it.

We also forgot too put the PCV valve back in, so if on that first start up, your cars engine makes a demonic screaming sound, check to make sure you put that sucker back in If you did put it in......youve got some other problems.

BonnevilleClub had some issues with new ownership, half of the folks started another site, half stayed with the original BC but under a different name, thats why all the links are dead. Ive PMed you some more information.


Also, as is mentioned in the info I linked you to via PM, you should probably snag one of the plastic coolant elbows. Its located on the LIM, and very commonly breaks. They are usually found in kind of the misc. section. I know Dorman makes one, its the HELP! brand of products. Better off to have a fresh one and return it if you dont use it than to have the old one crumble apart in your hands in a flurry of curse words, then realize you cant make it to the auto parts store without losing 2 gallons of coolant on the way.

[harmankardon35]

not sure about the site you posted, but I ordered wheel hubs from 1aauto and they arrived in short order with pretty good shipping rates...in fact...it says the manifold has FREE shipping in the US


http://www.1aauto.com/1A/IntakeManif...IM00008/416465